Colorado’s Most Powerful Salespeople: Christian Bienvenu

Senior vice president, UMB Commercial Banking

WHAT HE DOES: Bienvenu is responsible for cultivating prospective commercial client relationships and managing existing client relationships. He also actively participates in the innovation of products and enhancement of service strategies.

SALES PRODUCTION: During 2011 and 2012, Bienvenu generated a half billion dollars in loan commitments and added a record number of new client relationships. "We’ve posted 10 consecutive quarters of loan growth, and Christian is the top producing commercial sales person for our $14 billion financial-services company," says UMB’s Jon Robinson, who nominated Bienvenu for this award.

Sales philosophy: "I spend a lot of time with my clients and prospects in order to understand them on a deeper level than just business," Bienvenu says. "I build strong relationships that go beyond the average banker/client rapport; we become collaborative business partners. As these relationships strengthen, my clients often refer me to prospective customers, and my network exponentially grows."

HANDLING A NO: "I look at every ‘no’ as a ‘no, for now,’" Bienvenu says. "I don’t get discouraged by hearing a ‘no’ from a prospect because I understand that I will have another chance to work with them."

GOING THE EXTRA MILE: "Being available to his customers and prospects all day, every day, is what sets Christian apart from the competition," Robinson says. "At the height of the financial crisis, he worked seven days a week for months, often logging 18 hours a day. I believe that during this time when everything in the financial industry was in an extremely tumultuous state and businesses were facing massive uncertainty, he was there for his customers and prospects."

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